Boeing will receive a $4,2 billion award from NASA to build enger space vehicles.
Boeing's Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 is being developed as part of NASA's Crew Program (Ccdev), which aims to resume US-based flights to space in 2017. The CST-100 will transport up to seven engers or a mix of crew and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and other low-orbit destinations.
According to Boeing, NASA's CST-100 offers the best cost-effective low orbit access and a safe and innovative solution for the United States.
As part of the first phase of Commercial Crew Transportation (CCtCap), Boeing will build three CST-100s at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft will undergo a pad-abort test in 2016 and an unmanned flight in early 2017, leading up to the first crewed flight to the ISS in mid-2017.
Boeing recently completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) and Phase Two Spacecraft and Crew Safety Review (CST)-100, thus becoming the only competitor to NASA in the Commercial Crew program to a (CDR) and complete all CciCaps on time and within budget.
“The challenge with a CDR is to ensure that all the parts and sub-systems are working together,” said John Mulholland, Boeing Commercial Group Program Manager. “The integration of these systems is fundamental. Now we are looking forward to bringing the CST-100 to life. “
